Gangs Hot Topic In Nn Candidate Forum

NEWPORT NEWS — City residents question candidates for City Council and School Board in the upcoming May elections.

The problem of gangs in Newport News was the top issue raised by residents who questioned City Council and School Board candidates during a Monday night forum.

Sponsored by the Newport News chapter of the NAACP, the event held at the Grissom Library in Denbigh drew about 20 residents.

Central District council challenger Michael Taylor said the city needs to create more recreation centers for young people to reduce the need for gangs.

Central District incumbent Burt Bateman noted that the council's proposed budget includes money to hire three police detectives focusing on gang activity. A community center is planned for the city's northern end, Bateman said, and officials aim to open up new fields for lacrosse and soccer.

Pricillia Burnett, a candidate for mayor, said the gang problem stems from certain individuals being alienated in the schools and community.

Reducing gangs requires the creation of a "comprehensive community-based youth agency" which currently doesn't exist, said Shaun Brown, a challenger for the council's South District seat.

The city needs to develop options other than jail for handling gang offenders, most of whom are black males, said South District challenger Phil Bomersheim.

Betty Bracey Dixon, challenger for the at-large School Board position, said gang members exist in all the schools.

Dixon retired two years ago from the Newport News school system. "They are recruiting 7- to 10- year olds," she said.

At-large incumbent Dee Johnston, who chairs the board and seeks a third term, emphasized that gangs are a community problem, not a school problem.

Elva Williams Hunt, challenger for the Central District board seat, said the schools must partner with other organizations to fight gangs.

On the related topic of school discipline, A. Donald Moore, who seeks a seat representing the North District on the board, said behavior issues won't be addressed until officials stop pressuring teachers and administrators to avoid writing up students for acting up in class.

Carlton S. Ashby, a challenger for the South District board seat, said early education and children who learn around caring, nurturing adults can address discipline problems.

Responding to a question about increasing parental involvement in the schools, Sheryl Holmes Abbott, another South District challenger, said single parents who take off work to check on their children at school, should be financially compensated.

A lack of affordable housing and the city's ability to evacuate during a major hurricane, also were on residents' minds.

Burnett and William T. Hudgins Jr. agreed that all city residents would likely not make it out of the area of a Katrina-like hurricane hit. Hudgins, a mayoral candidate, estimated it would take "nine or 10 hours to get the streets clear."

In discussing affordable housing, Sharon Scott, running for another term serving the North District, said the city would like to convert trailer parks in the district into affordable units. Scott and Terrance Martin, who is challenging her, said public-private partnerships could effectively make housing more available to lower-income people. *